San Joaquin County Business, Economy & Jobs Digest

Three days after immensely destructive and deadly wildfires broke out in and around Los Angeles, Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed a $322.3 billion state budget with a positive revenue forecast “based on an assumption of continued but slowing economic growth.”

“If this is the new normal, this is absolute economic devastation,” says one local economist.

Nearly a half-century ago, during Jerry Brown’s first stint as governor, he and state legislators became embroiled in an extremely complex political squabble over taxing the incomes of multinational corporations.

The legislative analyst has a plan to fix the “structural insolvency” of the unemployment benefits fund — but businesses aren’t happy and it’s unclear if lawmakers will get on board.

Those in California who’d like a latte with a side of weed have gotten their wish now that a new law goes into effect that permits licensed cannabis dispensaries to add sit-in cafes to their sites.  

After winning a costly legislative battle last year, California’s casino-owning tribes have sued their rivals in the gambling business. Cities could lose money if the tribes prevail in court.

The first of three permitted cannabis dispensaries is set to open in Manteca within weeks. Read on to learn more.

The increase in lobbyists means there’s now at least one lobbyist for every legislative staff member.

Californians accused of certain drug and retail theft crimes may already be facing stiffer penalties under an initiative voters passed this year, alongside related bills Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law. 

Despite a budget deficit and continued high costs, there was good news and bad news for the California economy in 2024. The next year will depend in part on what the Trump administration does.

A new state law will keep medical debt off your credit report, sparing a hit to your all-important credit score. This is a big deal for California where millions struggle with unpaid medical bills. It takes effect Jan. 1, 2025.

A new California law will prohibit state-chartered banks from charging fees for withdrawals that are instantaneously declined.

Read on to learn more about the growing impact of H5N1 bird flu on San Joaquin County poultry farmers and the local agriculture sector.

Learn more about how a deal from 2022 to extend operations of the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Plant and a recent California Public Utilities Commission decision are leading to higher electricity bills across the state.

For California nurses seeking help with alcohol or drug abuse, the road to recovery through a program managed by their licensing board can be fraught, writes CalMatters health reporter Kristen Hwang.

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s decree that by 2035 all new cars sold in California must be powered by batteries or other zero-emission systems has received a double dose of legal and political support.

Child care centers throughout California struggled to find people with the right credentials to look after their babies, toddlers and preschoolers. At the same time, many people who wanted to become early childhood educators faced difficulties in earning the credentials.

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s “Master Plan for Career Education” seeks to help the nearly 7 million adults in California who lack college degrees by giving them college credit for their work experience and by changing the requirements on some state jobs.

Gov. Newsom and legislative Democrats pushed through a law that bans employers from requiring workers to attend ‘captive audience meetings.’ It was the latest victory for the labor movement at the state Capitol.

Learn more about the expanding recall of raw milk products following detection of bird flu in tested samples.

Out-of-work residents fight new fraud battles. The system bleeds money. And a $1 billion technology overhaul marches on.

Learn how health officials and California dairies are responding, or not, to the explosive spread of bird flu through dairy herds across the state.

Gov. Newsom gets the first of 13 regional plans to boost economic development across the state. The others are to be ready in January.

Learn how $1 million in funding approved by the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors is behind the launching of a small business center at University of the Pacific to assist local entrepreneurs.

Gov. Newsom just bought a $9 million house in Marin County, but his sources of income haven’t been made public recently. He had pledged to release his tax returns.

Voters in California’s farm belt, stretching more than 400 miles from Kern County on the south to Tehama County on the north, delivered solid majorities for Donald Trump in this month’s presidential election.

Between the summer session of the California Legislature featuring hot topics like AI regulation and money for journalism, and a special one focusing on gas prices, powerful corporations poured in record-setting money to influence lawmakers.

Learn about the 52nd annual Manteca Chamber of Commerce hosted Christmas Parade scheduled for December 7.

Read on to learn how the City of Manteca General Plan anticipates growth in the designated industrial zone, several future housing projects and options for a new road extension to connect with Highway 99.

In a November 14 press conference, City of Sacramento officials outlined a planned major investment in the Old Sacramento Waterfront. Read on for details.

Trump has threatened new, higher tariffs on two of California’s biggest trade partners, China and Mexico. The state’s workers and economy could feel the most impact.

Immigration advocates are sounding the alarm over the prospect of mass deportations upending California immigrant communities, which Donald Trump has vowed to initiate when he returns to the White House in January.